Is She Teething?

Updated on July 08, 2008
R.C. asks from Saint Louis, MO
16 answers

Good morning,

I think my five month old might be teething. She is showing all the typical signs, except a swollen gum yet. She is more fussy and even pulling on her ear. I have given tylenol. It seems to help.

Does anyone have any good tips or ideas for teething process? What should i expect?

Thanks- reb

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Thank you!

We did end up taking her to the doc just to make sure it was not an ear infection. She was fine. I guess she is just fussy from teething. Thanks for all the great suggestions.

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.N.

answers from St. Louis on

Give her a teething toy, you can get the ones that you put in the fridge so it will be cool on the gums if they are swollen it will help with that. Use Motrin and Tylenol, do every 4hrs and switch. You can also get Hylands Teething Tablets (found at Walgreens or Walmart) they work wonders. They are homopathic and dissolve in the mouth and calms a fussy baby and helps them sleep.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.R.

answers from St. Louis on

I do not really think pulling at her ears is a sign of teething. You may want to contact the doctor about that. You will notice when she starts to teeth because there will be like a hole in her lip because all of the slobber will be falling out.
Have fun

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.M.

answers from Kansas City on

My girls both showed signs similar to what you are discribing as well as a high fever at about the same age but then did not get any teeth until a couple months later. Teethers are great if she will chew on them. Mine won't. I would put an ice cube in a wash clothe with a rubber band around it and they loved that. Also any rubbery kind of plastic that they can chew on. We have a couple of diving sticks for swimming that have been the favorite teether in the house. We also give them the pop ice popsicles. They really love them. If she is pulling on her ear, you might want to make sure that she does not have an ear infection. My understanding is that symptoms can be similar.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from St. Louis on

while teething can cause a child to pull on her ear, Please have her ears checked. There are several reasons "why".... not only can teething tie in with ear infections, but it also can tie in with diarrhea, fever, & facial rashes (from the extra drooling). I know that many drs swear this is not true, but when it happens to child after child....there is some bearing!
Also, this is allergy season which can cause sinus drainage to back-up into the ear canal.
& finally, it's swim season which can also back fluids into the ear canal!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.B.

answers from Kansas City on

I can relate to that for sure. The only thing i might reccommend is that you may want to take your daughter into the pediatrician just to make sure she doesn't have an ear infection. My daughter was 5 months and also teething and i contributed her fussiness to that and finally ended up taking her and she had a double ear infection and i felt horrible. Just to cover all your bases- although i know sometimes teething pain can radiate to their ears too! Also- you can teething tablets at walmart or anywhere and yu just put them under her tongue and they dissolve and i think they helped a lot too. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.S.

answers from Joplin on

Sounds more like an ear infection to me.
Not all ear infections require or even should be treated with antibiotics, but it wouldn't hurt to have it checked.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.S.

answers from St. Louis on

The ear-pulling could be an ear infection, especially since the Tylenol is helping with the symptoms. Often the symptoms of teething and an ear infection are similar. You may want to take her to the dr., just to be on the safe side.

If she is teething, I highly recommend Hyland's Teething Tablets. I used to be able to find them at Wal-Mart in the vitamin/supplement section. They really helped both of my boys with teething pain.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.E.

answers from Kansas City on

My daughter has never had swollen gums when teething. The Hyland's Teething Tablets are a life-saver.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.R.

answers from Joplin on

she has an ear infection if she's pulling her ear. take her to her pediatrician and get it looked out to check for otitis media. he may or may not do antibiotics and tylenol is fine for the pain--just NO motrin, she isn't old enough yet. good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.C.

answers from Kansas City on

R.,
Go to the doctor. She may have an ear infection. Teething can often be mistaken for an ear infection. And your better safe than sorry.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.S.

answers from Springfield on

There is another possibility....she may have an ear infection....That can make her fussy & uncomfortable....It might be a good thing to have a Dr take a look see just to cover all the bases.....Good Luck, Retired Nurse.

D.H.

answers from Kansas City on

Have you taken her to the doctor to see is she has an ear infection. That is a sign when they pull on their ears. If you have and it is not an ear infection. Get her some of the refridgerated type teethers to suck on. They are cold and make their gums feel better. Good Luck and God Bless.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.G.

answers from St. Louis on

You may want to rule out an ear infection, just in case (that's the short version of one of my experiences!) If she is teething, I think it can start to bother them while the teeth are still forming below the gumline. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.H.

answers from Kansas City on

My son was extremely fussy around 6 months and was constantly pulling on his ears but I wasn't seeing any teeth or swollen gums. I took him to the Dr just to double check on possible ear infection, but he was good. He is 11 months now and has 2 teeth. I haven't seen or felt any new teeth in about 2 months now so I am just waiting for it all to start over again - FUN FUN!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

It is my experience that children teethe from birth until the age of 16. Cold/ frozen teething rings are sold commercially. Natural mamas freeze veggies like carrots and fruit like apples for the baby to gnaw on. Gum-numbers like Ora-Gel or natural ones like licorice root, whatever it takes to make sure that they are comfortable. Teething does not lower their resistance, it it simply that they put everything into their mouths and pick up more germs.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.K.

answers from St. Louis on

You may want to try cold things for her to put in her mouth/eat. I know they are not the healthiest things, but bits of those frozen plastic tube things, bits of popsicle, frozen yogurt,etc. You may find something healthier in the stores or make something yourself.

Although pulling her ear may be about teething, it also may be about an ear infection. If its red (when she's not pulling on it), you may want to consider that.

Take lots of deep breathes, understand that she is going to experience some pain, some of it you may be able to alleviate, some not, but, in the end you will all survive!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches